Amid a major economic reconfiguration driven by the government of Javier Milei, renowned actor Ricardo Darín sparked a national controversy by claiming that a dozen empanadas cost 48,000 pesos. However, official figures show a very different reality. The discussion revealed not only the impact of inherited inflation but also the gap between media perception and concrete data.
The Argentine economy is undergoing a process of structural transformation under the government of Javier Milei. In this context, the price of an everyday product like a dozen empanadas unexpectedly became the center of a public debate, after actor Ricardo Darín stated, during his appearance on Mirtha Legrand's show, that this food can cost up to 48,000 pesos.
The statement did not go unnoticed. The Minister of Economy, Luis Caputo, replied with figures in hand to refute the actor and highlight the disconnect of certain sectors from the objective economic reality. "Public opinion can't be built on inflated anecdotes or misinformation," the official remarked in a television interview, clearly alluding to Darín's comments.
The price of a dozen empanadas is not only a consumption data point but also a relevant component of the Buenos Aires City Consumer Price Index (IPCBA). According to this indicator, in April 2025, the average price of a dozen cooked empanadas to go was 22,010.64 pesos. That is, less than half of what the actor mentioned on national television.
Nevertheless, the price of empanadas has increased. Since 2023, the price of a dozen has risen, showing that the food service sector has experienced higher specific increases, especially due to its high dependence on non-tradable inputs and the lagged effects of devaluation.
